drip irrigation kit instruction manual - greywater...

© 2010 I rr igat ion Direct . All Rights Reserved. - 1 -

Drip I rr igat ion Kit I nstallat ion Manual

Gravity Feed Drip I rr igat ion Kit for Vegetable Garden

Models:

□ Starter Kit : (DK-GFVG)

Starter Kit

CONTENTS Descript ion ...................................................................................................................................................................... 2

About Gravity Feed Drip System s ......................................................................................................................... 2

Gravity Feed Guidelines ............................................................................................................................................. 4

I nstallat ion: Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 5

I nstallat ion: Step-by-Step ........................................................................................................................................ 5

Gravity Feed System Layouts ............................................................................................................................... 10

Parts List ........................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Maintenance Tips ........................................................................................................................................................ 14

I rr igat ion Direct Lim ited Warranty ...................................................................................................................... 14

The I rr igat ion Direct Guarantee ........................................................................................................................... 14

Contact I nform at ion .................................................................................................................................................. 14


Descript ion

This kit contains everything you will need to go from rain a barrel (not included) to your plants, including a rain

barrel bulkhead fit t ing. This k it uses 1 / 4 " Soaker Hose Dripline for vegetable garden rows. The number of

plants that can be watered with this kit is an est imate based on the total linear feet of em it ter tubing. I f you want

to autom ate your drip system , a Hose End Tim er (DD-HEDT) can be purchased separately.

1 / 4 " Soaker hose dripline (aka Drip em it ter tubing) is at tached direct ly to ½ ” solid poly tubing supply line with

1/ 4" barbed connectors. The soaker hose is then run down the length of the garden rows. I f you want to stop or

cont rol the flow of water in 1/ 4” soaker hose tubing, you can install an opt ional flow cont rol valve (DD-FCV250) .

A rain barrel bulkhead fit t ing is included to turn a garbage can, bucket , or barrel into a rain barrel.

A Hose End Tim er (DD-HEDT) or 1/ 4” Flow Cont rol Valve (DD-FCV250) can be purchased separately.

Hose End Timer 1/4 Inch Flow Control Valve

About Gravity Feed Drip System s

Drip irr igat ion products are designed for use with constant pressure of 15 - 30 psi. The stated output for soaker

hose dripline is based on this pressure. For example, the internal 1/ 2 gph em it ters in the soaker hose tubing will

deliver one half-gallon of water per hour if the system is pressurized at 15 psi.

Since the pressure with a gravity system is often well below this range, and drops as the system operates,

em it ter flow rates will be substant ially less than those specified for the individual em it ter. This kit uses 1/ 4”

soaker hose tubing and the flow rate will also vary between em it ters on the same line of dr ip tubing as they are

placed farther away from the water source.

Drip Emitter Output drops down the line


I n a nutshell, a gravity- fed drip system w ill dist r ibute w ater inconsistent ly throughout the system .

To determ ine the w ater pressure in a gravity feed drip system , measure the height of the water in

the rain barrel or tank to the ground.

Rain Barrel at 2 foot elevation

I f the rain barrel is on a hill above the plants to be watered, measure the height of the barrel above the

planted area. You gain .433 psi for each foot of elevat ion. For example, if you fill a 2 foot garbage can (or

rain barrel) with water, the pressure is less than 1 psi ( .866 psi) . As the water level drops in the barrel, so

does the pressure. The output of the drippers will drop as the water level drops.

At very low pressure, it may take several hours to deliver the amount of water needed for your plants. For

example, if a dripper em its 1/ 8 of a gallon of water per hour with a rain barrel 3 feet above the ground,

you need to run your drip system for 4 hours in order to deliver 1/ 2 gallon of water to your plants.

To achieve the recommended 15 psi (and 1/ 2 gph output )

your rain barrel would need to be 34.6 feet above your

plants.

I f you are willing to accept very low and uneven water

output , you can build a gravity- feed system for watering

plants with a container on grade or just a few feet off the

ground.

Rain Barrel w ith dr ip tubing

We have done extensive test ing with our drip kits in

mult iple configurat ions in order to provide you with

the best recommendat ions. Our goal is to help you

build a gravity- feed drip system with the most

consistent dr ip output .

Drip Irrigation Testing at Irrigation Direct


Gravity Feed Guidelines

These guidelines are included to help you achieve the most consistent water output from each of the soaker hose drip

lines. It might not be practical for you to follow each of these guidelines with your particular landscape or garden

layout. The more of these guidelines that you incorporate into the design of your gravity feed drip system, the more

consistent output you will achieve.

1. Output drops off dow n the line as you m ove farther aw ay from the supply line. The graph below

shows the output for a single line of Soaker hose dripline (DD-DET250-12-100) at tached to a rain barrel.

I n this example, the rain barrel is installed 2 ft above the ground and filled with 2 ft of water. 20 ft of

dr ipline with em it ters spaced 12 inches apart (20 feet total) . As you can see below, the individual output

decreases toward the end of the drip tubing.

Single 20 foot length of Soaker Hose Dripline - Mainline attached at end

2. Use short dr ip tubing runs & a grid layout . You will get bet ter results with grid layouts of short tubing

lengths (20 ft or less) than with a long snaking drip tube.

Blue circles are rain barrels


I nstallat ion: Overview The Bulk Head Fit t ing (DD-BHF75) comes with an inst ruct ion sheet called “ I nstalling a Bulk Head Fit t ing in a Rain

Barrel” . You will at tach a Y Filter and Swivel Adapter to the Bulk Head Fit t ing. The supply line is 1/ 2” Solid Drip

Tubing and is run next to your landscape or vegetable garden plants. A 1/ 2” Flow Cont rol Valve is used to cont rol

the water flow from the rain barrel to the plants. Small plants will get one 1/ 4” flow cont rol valve. Larger plants

should get two 1/ 4” flow cont rol valves. Trees will likely require 4 or more valves. We’ve included stakes for the

1/ 4” tubing. You may purchase 1/ 2” stakes separately.

I nstallat ion: Step- by- Step

Roll the tubing out in the sun to soften. Weigh it down and let the sun heat the tubing for 30 m inutes. This will

m ake it easier to work with.

Step one: I nstalling the Bulk Head Fit t ing

Follow the inst ruct ions to install the enclosed bulkhead fit t ing. I f your

rain barrel has a bulkhead fit t ing at tached, skip to Step Two.

Step Tw o: From the Rain Barrel to the I ndividual Plants

1. At tach the Y Filter (DD-YS75HFM) to the male hose threads of the bulkhead fit t ing.


2. Screw the Com pression Sw ivel Adapter (DD-CHS700) onto the hose inline filter.

3. At tach 1 / 2 ” Solid Drip Tubing (DD-DH700) to the 1/ 2” swivel adapter and run it across the top of the

garden rows. Layout t ips: Read the Gravity Feed Guideline for t ips on laying out your drip system for

best output performance.

4. Add the 1 / 2 ” Flow Control Valve (DD-FCV700) in a convenient locat ion after the swivel adapter. This is

the “on/ off switch” for your gravity- fed drip system. Just cut the 700 poly tubing and insert the flow

cont rol valve like a coupler (see below) .


5. Use 1 / 2 ” Com pression Elbow s (DD-L700) to make 90 degree turns in 1/ 2” ploy tubing.

6. Run the 1/ 2" tubing above the garden rows and secure in place with 8 ” w ire stakes (S8)

7. Add Figure 8 End Caps (DD-F8) to the ends of 1/ 2” solid drip tubing. Leave the end open for flushing.

8. Open the Flow Control Valve to turn on the w ater and FLUSH THE LI NE unt il a ll lines are clear

of debris. Replace the 1 / 2 ” threaded end caps at the ends of the 1 / 2 ” solid dr ip tubing.


Step Three: I nstalling Soaker Hose Dripline

1. At each row use the Deluxe Hole Punch (DD-HP250) to poke a hole in the 1/ 2” tubing.

2. I nsert the 1 / 4 ” Barbed Connector (DD-C250) direct ly into the 1/ 2” tubing.

At tach a piece of 1 / 4 ” Soaker Hose Dripline (DD-DET250-12-100) to the barbed connector and run it down

the length of the row.


Cut the tubing with scissors and push the small end of the Goof Plug (DD-GP) into the open end of the 1/ 4”

tubing to cap off the ends.

3. Turn on your system and check each valve for water output . Remember that some inconsistency of output

is to be expected with a gravity- fed drip system.

• Goof Plugs (DD-GP) are used to plug holes in 1/ 2" drip poly tubing or cap off 1/ 4" m icro tubing.


Gravity Feed System Layouts Here are a few sample layouts for our gravity feed kits. Use the t ips below in your design to help equalize the

output . Maxim um length of Soaker Hose Dripline = 2 0 ft

Connect ion Opt ions:

Starter Kit Exam ple # 1 Tip: At tach m ainline to center for bet ter w ater dist r ibut ion

TI P: At tach m ainline to the center and ends for best w ater dist r ibut ion


Starter Kit : Exam ple 2

Tip: At tach m ainline to the ends for bet ter w ater distr ibut ion


Parts List I TEM Quant ity PART #

S M L

Bulk Head Fit t ing

Provides a threaded connect ion from the rain barrel (bucket ) to

your gravity feed drip irr igat ion kit . Requires a 7/ 8” hole saw

(not included) . I nstallat ion inst ruct ions included.

1 - - DD-BHF75

Y Filter w ith hose threads

I nstalled between the hose vacuum breaker and the drip

regulator. Protects flow cont rol valves from impurit ies that may

clog them. 150 mesh screen.

1 - - DD-

YS75HFM

1 / 2 " Com pression hose sw ivel

Connects 1/ 2" drip tubing to rain barrel bulkhead fit t ing.

Connects to 3/ 4" male hose threads.

1 - - DD-

CHS600

1 / 2 ” Drip tubing ( 7 0 0 series) - 5 0 foot roll

1/ 2" tubing for main lines. Supplies water to 1/ 4” soaker hose

drip lines.

1 - - DD-

DH700-50

1 / 4 ” Soaker hose dripline ( 2 5 0 series) – 1 0 0 foot roll

1/ 2 gallon-per-hour inline em it ters molded into the tubing at

12" spacing. Max run: 3 3 feet .

1 - - DD-

DET250-

12-100

1 / 2 ” Flow Control Valve

Adjust or stop the flow of water through 1/ 2" drip mainline

tubing. Handy when isolat ing irr igated sect ions. This is the

“on/ off” valve for your gravity feed system.

1 - - DD-

FCV700

1 / 2 ” Com pression Elbow

Used to create 90 degree turns in mainline drip tubing.

2 - - DD-L700

Figure 8 End of Line Plug

Caps off the ends of 1/ 2” dr ip tubing. Convenient removable

fit t ing.

2 - - DD-F8

Deluxe Hole Punch

Designed to fit very comfortably in your hand. Creates clean,

precise holes in 1/ 2" drip poly tubing.

1 - - DD-HP250

1 / 4 ” Connector - barb x barb

Used to connect 1/ 4" solid drip tubing or 1/ 4" soaker hose to

drip mainline tubing. Connects lengths of 1/ 4" tubing.

1 0 - - DD-C250


Micro Tubing Holder Stake - 6 ”

Keep drip em it ters and m icro tubing in place. Em it ter and m icro

tubing is elevated, reducing dirt and insect int rusion.

2 0 - - DD-S2

Goof Plug

Plug holes in 1/ 2" drip poly tubing or cap off 1/ 4" m icro tubing.

Dual plug ends to accommodate large or small holes.

2 0 - - DD-GP


Maintenance Tips

W I NTERI ZI NG

I f you live where it freezes, it is a good idea to drain the water from your drip lines and the components

connected to the water source. Here’s how:

1. Turn off the hose bibb.

2. I f you have a hose-end t imer installed, let the system run through a watering cycle. This will open the

t imer and let any remaining water drain out of the t imer and other components & into the drip tubing.

3. I f you do not have a t imer installed, unscrew the drip system from the hose bibb for a few m inutes to let

air into the line. Reat tach the line after a m inute or two.

4. Note: We do not recomm end blowing com pressed air though a drip system .

FLUSH THE LI NE ANUALLY

Since drip systems operate at low pressures, sediment can set t le in the line over t ime.

1. Flush the line annually by unscrewing the end cap at the end of the line.

2. Check filter screen for debris and clean if necessary.

3. Turn on the hose bibb unt il the water runs clear from the end of the line.

4. Replace the cap.

5. Turn on the hose bibb and check the ent ire system for leaks.

REPAI R BREAKS & LEAKS

1. Small holes in the line can be plugged with a goof plug.

2. For larger breaks or holes in the 1/ 4” dr ip tubing, make a clean cut around the damaged area and

reconnect the lines with a 1 / 4 ” barbed connector (DD-C250) purchased separately .

3. For larger breaks or holes in the 1/ 2” dr ip tubing, make a clean cut around the damaged area and

reconnect the lines with a 1 / 2 ” Direct - Loc coupling (DL-C600) .

DRI P I RRI GATI ON TUTORI ALS

Visit our website for more t ips, t r icks, and expert advice: ht tp: / / www.irr igat iondirect .com/ expert -advice

I rr igat ion Direct Lim ited W arranty

I rr igat ion Direct warrants to the original purchaser that the I rr igat ion Direct Product (s) is/ are free from defects in

material and workmanship under normal use and service.

The warranty coverage lasts for a period of three (3) years start ing from the date of purchase. For details visit

the warranty page on our website: ht tp: / / www.irr igat iondirect .com/ warranty

The I rr igat ion Direct Guarantee

Our 100% sat isfact ion guarantee ensures that every item you purchase at I rr igat ion Direct meets your high

standards—or you can return it for a replacem ent or refund. We want you to buy with confidence anyt ime you

purchase products on the I rr igat ion Direct website. I f you're ever dissat isfied with an item , contact us to return or

exchange it .

Contact I nform at ion Product Quest ions:

I f you have a quest ion about our products, first make sure that you have clicked “click for details” on our website

on the product that you have a quest ion about , chances are you will f ind all k inds of great details and even

videos Or email us at : productquest ion@irr igat iondirect .com.

I nsta llat ion & Maintenance I nform at ion:

I f you have a quest ion that you couldn’t find the answer for in this inst ruct ion sheet , please check the following

sect ions of our website:

Expert Advice: www.irr igat iondirect .com/ expert -advice

Tutoria ls: www.irr igat iondirect .com/ expert -advice/ tutorials

Videos: www.irr igat iondirect .com/ expert -advice/ videos

Technical Support : techsupport@irr igat iondirect .com

Phone (8 AM to 5 PM M-F Pacific Time 925-449-1300)

http://www.irrigationdirect.com/expert-advice�

http://www.irrigationdirect.com/warranty�

mailto:[email protected]�

http://www.irrigationdirect.com/expert-advice�

http://www.irrigationdirect.com/expert-advice/tutorials�

http://www.irrigationdirect.com/expert-advice/videos�

mailto:[email protected]�

drip irrigation kit instruction manual - greywater...

Documents